Revolutionary simulations from Maynooth University astronomers reveal that, at the onset of the dense and turbulent universe, “light seed” black holes could swiftly consume matter, rivaling the supermassive black holes found at the centers of early galaxies.
Computer visualization of a baby black hole growing in an early universe galaxy. Image credit: Maynooth University.
Dr. Daksar Mehta, a candidate at Maynooth University, stated: “Our findings indicate that the chaotic environment of the early universe spawned smaller black holes that underwent a feeding frenzy, consuming surrounding matter and eventually evolving into the supermassive black holes observed today.”
“Through advanced computer simulations, we illustrate that the first-generation black holes, created mere hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang, expanded at astonishing rates, reaching sizes up to tens of thousands of times that of the Sun.”
Dr. Louis Prowl, a postdoctoral researcher at Maynooth University, added: “This groundbreaking revelation addresses one of astronomy’s most perplexing mysteries.”
“It explains how black holes formed in the early universe could quickly attain supermassive sizes, as confirmed by observations from NASA/ESA/CSA’s James Webb Space Telescope.”
The dense, gas-rich environments of early galaxies facilitated brief episodes of “super-Eddington accretion,” a phenomenon where black holes consume matter at a rate faster than the norm.
Despite this rapid consumption, the black holes continue to devour material effectively.
The results uncover a pivotal “missing link” between the first stars and the immense black holes that emerged later on.
Mehta elaborated: “These smaller black holes were previously considered too insignificant to develop into the gigantic black holes at the centers of early galaxies.”
“What we have demonstrated is that, although these nascent black holes are small, they can grow surprisingly quickly under the right atmospheric conditions.”
There are two classifications of black holes: “heavy seed” and “light seed.”
Light seed black holes start with a mass of only a few hundred solar masses and must grow significantly to transform into supermassive entities, millions of times the mass of the Sun.
Conversely, heavy seed black holes begin life with masses reaching up to 100,000 times that of the Sun.
Previously, many astronomers believed that only heavy seed types could account for the existence of supermassive black holes seen at the hearts of large galaxies.
Dr. John Regan, an astronomer at Maynooth University, remarked: “The situation is now more uncertain.”
“Heavy seeds may be rare and depend on unique conditions for formation.”
“Our simulations indicate that ‘garden-type’ stellar-mass black holes have the potential to grow at extreme rates during the early universe.”
This research not only reshapes our understanding of black hole origins but also underscores the significance of high-resolution simulations in uncovering the universe’s fundamental secrets.
“The early universe was far more chaotic and turbulent than previously anticipated, and the population of supermassive black holes is also more extensive than we thought,” Dr. Regan commented.
The findings hold relevance for the ESA/NASA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, set to launch in 2035.
Dr. Regan added, “Future gravitational wave observations from this mission may detect mergers of these small, rapidly growing baby black holes.”
For further insights, refer to this paper, published in this week’s edition of Nature Astronomy.
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D.H. Meter et al. Growth of light seed black holes in the early universe. Nat Astron published online on January 21, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41550-025-02767-5
Source: www.sci.news
